Men sent forward for trial over alleged Mayo violent disorder

THREE Westport men have been sent forward for trial at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court charged in connection with alleged violent disorder on Bridge Street, Westport, in February 2024.

Cian Hayes (40), 1 Limes Court, James Street; Kevin Kay (38), Carrabaun; and Daniel Murphy (22), Killeencoff, all Westport, appeared before Castlebar District Court.

The trio face charges of violent disorder, contrary to Section 15 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. Murphy also faces a charge of assaulting an individual, causing him harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

The charges relate to an incident on Bridge Street on February 5, 2024. It is alleged that the three men, present together, “used or threatened to use unlawful violence."

They allege their conduct, taken together, would have caused a person of reasonable firmness at the scene to fear for their own or another person’s safety.

Garda Olive Lafferty told the court she had met each of the accused before the hearing and served them with the book of evidence.

She signed a declaration to that effect and handed it in, along with a copy of the book for the judge.

Court presenter Garda Sergeant John O’Reilly applied to have the men returned for trial to the present sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on November 2.

Judge Vincent Deane noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the matter being sent forward for trial.

He gave each man an alibi warning and sent them forward for trial to the November 2 sitting.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.